Segmental metallic packing ring



Feb. 20, H, 1 WHEELER I SEGMENTAL METALLIC PACKING RING Filed June e. 193e 2 sheets-sneer 1 (E /o 'LSG /4/3 /a M l #4b I A @9A l:i410

/\ A N ENTOR.- &7, BY Mg@ ATTORNEY 5 Feb. 20, 1940. H. fr. WHEELER SGMENTAL METALLIC PACKING RING 2 Sheets-Sheet' 2 Filed June 6, 1936 L@ IVENTOR. BY @63%.

; ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. .20,` 1940 L y :UNITED sifntgg 4miEN;Tv owing 2,191,265 v t t n l siicfivrENTAr.finn'rALI'Ju'PACKINGA RING v .l

` y 'i 'Harley` T. WlieeleL-Dallas,,Tex. y

Application .Junec. 1936, seria1 No.s8s, s74

y 'z claims. 5 .(c1.j2s61212) My Vinvention relates to metallic packing rings 7- is` a brolnnfend'r yview illustrating the tobe employedv in a stufling box'yabo'ut a moving rod or shaft. `It is designed particularly 4to use" either .where the packing is subjected to heat or Ato corrosive gases. It is 'an object of the invention to` provide a metallic packing ring which is iieXible so as to maintain a s eal abouta moving rod wherein a4 certain amount of ,lateral'vibration or sway isy present.A I desire to provide such'- a packing wherein the sealing means is automatically adjustable to make close sealing 'Contact with thel f segments theinterior of-whichhas been-chan- 'nelediaslsho-wn in Fig. 7. f z` Fig. 11 isa central long itudinalsection through astufn'gboxinstallationshowing a slightly different arrangement of the sealing rings.

rod while the rod is moving, 1.1

I aimtovproduce a ring composed of a plural .Y ity of segments, some of whichare longitudinally tapered to givea wedgingv action in -movingqtheV segments into sealing position. It isa further object toprovidering segments which have a limitedr amount of resiliency'longi- A tudinally of the box to=l aid in kpreservingfa seal. I employ two complementaryjs'ealing rings whichr together serve to close vcrif the passage of `hot gases.

It is a further object of the invention to` provide means y:for vlubricating the upper portion of the rod by conducting the lubricant throughthe packing rings during their operation. l

It is a further object to provideapacking unit vwhich maybe used in multiple stage arrange` ment, each unit being housedwithin a separate outer ring or housing.

It is a fur-ther object to adapt the ring constructionv for the use of .materialsother than metal, particularly where corrosive fluids are to be packed off. Ildesire/ to'so construct thering segments of corrosion resisting materials that v they will notv wear materially in use and serve as a. packing where segments of metal are not particularly effective.

Referring `i@ u ie dravi'ringsiieiewiih. Fig. 14 is a central longitudinal section throughV a stufng box installation shown as mounted upon a rod. i l. Fig. la is a broken end view'cfthestuiing box showing thel arrangement of the packing rings therein. j v v Fig. 2 is an end eleva-tion offene yof the packing units consisting of ltwo adjacent rings.

Fig.. 2a is `a lvcentral longitudinal sectionon the line a-a of Fig. 2.

segments in oneof the two rings.

Fig. 4 is a similarview of one ofv4 the segments in the adjacent ring.

, Fig. 3 isa broken side View showing oneofthe Y. accommodate conditions such as these it is nec- Fig. 5 is a similar broken side view illustrating the `position o f the two segments side by side.

sectionV4 of a packing.

1 and adapt themselves. to the movements of.A the* rod. i

manner'inwhich the ring may expand. 4

Fig. `'lis a .centrallongitudinal section through` a Vs tufi'ig box installation showing the manner of lubricatinglthe same. i I Y f -Figi 8.i s.a broken-end view of one of the rings havingthe oil grooves therein.

Fig;r 11a is afbreken? end View of the stuingbox 1Fig.`1 2a.isa broken endviewof theysaid cup;

shown in=Fig. .12.,

i Fig; l-hisan/end `views-of a sealing ring constructed partlyl of, -a yfabric composition.

Fig. 13a. is a broken View illustrating a cross u nit having .rings Asuch as shown in Fig.f13." f Fig. ?141 is.an end vi'ewshowing the arrange- 'ment` of the capi'p'latey 'for installations employf ing-afabric composition.

Fig.: 14aVK is ma Vertical section throughthel as lsemblyfshown in Fig. 14. y Fig.-15-is an'vend View of a slightly diierent'embodimentof the vcap plate., i

Fig. 15a isa transverse Vsection onthe plane Huf-[5a of Fig.'. 15. i 'V Figfl isa broken end viewoi a composition ringhaving ametalxfacing thereon.

' Fig. ,16a is aside viewof the structure shown l6bis atransversesection on the line br---br I rI he.invention consists particularly inthe construction ofr a packing unit Ain segmental ring packing such as is ordinarily employed in stuffing boxesrto pack about a, moving shaft or-'r'cd havf ing al certain` amount of lateral movement and alsowhich is adapted foruse on rods of unequal diameter throughout `thevlength of the rod. To

essary that-the ring, ,be lmade of` segments eX- iblyconn'ected together so that they may'move In Fig. 1 I have illustrated an installation such as may be employed in a stufling box about a a moving shaft. The installation includes three separate units such as here shown, `it being understood that as many units will be employed as may be necessary in the. particular' construction in which the stuffing box is Used. The three units each comprise a cup member indicated in Fig. 1 by the numerals 2, 3 and 4. These cup members have an interior diameter slightly larger than the shaft and are recessedy on the sideaway from the pressure to receive two separate segmental rings, indicated at 6 in Fig. 1. At the outer end of the box is a plate 5 which, as shown in Fig. la, may be clamped in position byV an outer cap or gland 5a by means of through bolts and nuts 1. Y y i Considering one of the sets ofpacking rings, it is to be noted that one of the rings on the side toward the` pressure is constructed slightly different from the adjacent ring. In Figs. 2 and 2o the ring toward the pressureA is-made up off three segments 8 set in uniformspaced relation upon the rod and having the ends of the segments cut on a line which is approximatelyl tangent;` to the circle of the shaft and spaced slightly from the shaft, as will be seen in Fig. 2. There isthus provided a seat on the adjacent ends of each of the segments for a cap plate 8a. This seat upon which the cap plate fits is beveled or inclinded as will be understood from the dotted lines in Fig. 2. The bevel on the lseat `interts with the capplate 8a so that the larger end of the said cap plate is presented'away from the sourceof pressure. `It is `also to be noted that when pressure is exerted against the outer circumference of the cap4 plate there will be a `tendency of said plate to slide longitudinally relative to the adjacent` segments 8. This will be understood from Figs. ,4 and 5. ,A

Fig. 4 is taken in the direction oftheA arrow 4 in Fig. 2`and it will'be seen that when the ring is in normal position the cap will be in; direct alignment with the adjacent segments 8. I-Iowever, in Fig. 5, the cap rplate 8a is shown as being under pressure around the circumference in such manner as to tend to wedge the section 8a.

laterally against the wall of the sectionz. This gives the ring a certain resiliency so that when` the pressure is exerted around the circumference of the ring the cap plates will be l,moved against the adjacent wall and tend to wedge the ring in the opposite direction against the adjacent ring and thus form a seal along 'the surfacel indicated at X. There is a slight clearance between ,the ring 8 and the wall 2, which `is indicated at c, into which pressure uid may find entrance, thus exerting a lateral pressure against the adjacent ring and the wall 3 at the other 4side of the unit.

It is to be noted especially 'from Fig. 2a that the crcumference of each segment is deeply grooved as there indicated to receive garter springs shown at 9c in Fig. 1. These springs hold the segments inwardly against the shaft but allow a flexibility which will be obvious.

One one end of each of the cap platesa is a radiallyextending grooveb shown in Figs. 2,

4 and.5. These openingsform a radial passagey through which pressure fluid tending to escape along' the rod may find an exit outwardly `into the chamber in which the two rings are housed. This allows the pressure of the fluid to be exerted against the outer circumference of leach of the rings and will thus assist in maintaining a .seal v at the rod in each installation.V

The adjacent ring is made up of similar segments and is constructed in all respects similar to the ring having the segments 8 but the cap plates have no taper or bevel relative to the other segments and hence have no wedging action. It cooperates with the adjacent ring, however, in that a wedging action of the cap plates on the ring first describedl will force the two rings together and will force the ring 9 against the wall of the adjacent cup and preserve a seal through which fluid cannot escape to any material extent. It is to be understood that fluid tending to escape along the rod in Fig. l will be sealed off `unit in the same manner as in the first and the action of the third unit will be to cut down the escape of gases so that a tight seal is obtained.

It isto be understood that this type of packing installation nds'its greatest use on reciprocating engines and particularly of the internal combustion type andthat the pressure packed against is hencea pulsating pressure whichlasts but a short intervalv of timeand then has a reverse stroke tending to reverse the action. This type of packing is particularly adapted for such uses. In Fig. 6 the manner in which the segments may expand or contract relative to each other is indicated by the dotted and full line positions of the parts. v l

In packing of'this kind the lubricating of the shaft is often a featureof importance and in Fig. 7 I have indicated how lubricant may be supplied tothe upper side of the shaft through the packing installation previously described. Thus lubricant may be forced through a pipe i2 connected -passage in the cup member shown at i3, which delivers iubricant through` an opening in segment it of one of the rings 8 against the side of the adjacent ring i5. With reference to Figs. 8 to 9a, inclusive, itwill be. seen that the face of the segment i5 is formed with oil` grooves lh therein to `which the` lubricant is fed through opening` 15a inthe segment Ma., and thus discharged downwardly against the upper side of the shaft. It is to be understood that the rings are held against rotative movement relative to the cups or the shaft by means of dowels Mb in the rings engaging within openings in the adjacent wall of the cup fi, thus preventing the openings in the rings from getting out of alignment with the oil system.

In Figs. '7 and 10 I have shown how the interior of one of the rings ymay be grooved on its interior so asto make the same more resilient longitudinally.` Thus the segment iii of one ofthe rings 9 is ,formed ywith an interior groove ma which extends into the ring from the surface adjacent the shaft and provides a space between the ends of the. ring which allows a certain amountof compression of the ring itself, making v cup.` The action of the packing members in this installation is approximately the same as in the "previous installation excepty that the adjustability of the packing unit is somewhat implates and' thus providesfia' ringiwhich will' wear provee through: the. met. that .the cupi :la allows d c n for 4long periods of timeand resist the action a` material amount-f of .c vibration relative' to the chamber in which it' is situated', thus tending' toA increase the flexibility offthe parking. In this s tructureiit kis possible` tolubricate `the shaft through' 'a lubricating pipe 20' discharging lubricant through the passage -2v| 'and through the Wallbf the cup I9 intothe 'packing assembly as in the previous embodiment." The ringsandv lthe cup are held against rotation relative to the@ shaft by dowelsf23aand24a aswill be'obvious.

Iii-desired it ispossible to hold the segments' of thev ring together byv aplurality of springsy `arrangedlwithin-the oating cups I8 .or IQL` This WillfbeseenV from Fig.- lla-whereja 'leaf spring 22 is" arrangedbetweenthe capplateand the Wallofthercup llLthe` oppositeend` of the-spring bearing againstL the segment I1. Whenthesegmental rings are arranged withinthe cup i9,

as there shown, the springs 22'will servethe esame purposeas the garterr springs illustrated .y same sealing effect.`

in the previous embodimentand will have' the In Fig; 13 Iha've shown anarrangement wheres' by the segmental sections Z5 of the packing ring may be made up of composition, which may, for example, be composed of layers of.k fabric impregnated with phenol formaldehyde composition' which is vulcanized into laminated .layers of fabric which may be, for example, cotton or linen. ;When thus formed 'these ring segments will bev resistantto the destructive effects of gasoline,sulphur and other-corrosive impurities in thenuid. d l, n c

Inthe use of composition segments such as have beeny described it is found that Where. a

ring is made up entirely of such composition the adjacentedges in contactA with each yother tend to Wear tosuch an extent that afseal is almost impossible. I therefore employ cap plates 25a of metal engaging with the ends of the composi-A ytion segments. Inthis manner none of the com` positionl segments contact with each other' and` the wear which would otherwise take place is eliminated. However, thesealing surface contacting- .with the shaft is entirely of the composition. The ring 26 on the downstream side in Fig. 13a is entirely of metal'while the ring on the pressure vside may be made `with segments of composition as above described'. `Thus as thehousing cups `2, vSand 4 are ',of' metal, the segments of the pressure` ring will engage onlywith metal, "both on its sides and ends yandeicient service from ,such `rings' Vwill be obtained.

composition segments: will notcome in contact with each other. shown the cap'plate 2'! as being` faced with a "metal covering 28 on the side adjacent the sega ments 29.` `'I'hus the portion 21, may befalso ments. In Figs. l5 and 15al another embodiment of the facing material isyshown. In this 'em. `bodiment the metal 'facing 4is formed in a channel-shaped metal facing `fitting over the `inner side of the caplplate 21. This facing is secured in position byl indentingthesheet metal at its y v lThe *facing thus secured to the segmental cap plate prevents -75A outer margin, as shown at 28a.

contact of the composition segments With'the In Fi s. 14 and 14a I have g 'sections enclosing chambers about a rod, a .palr

' stated.

of corrosive liquid! and gases.

-,InFigs.f 16, 16d and A16hI I have shown how a compositionpistonlring may be provided with ainetal shoe` at "the'engaging ends of they segments. The -part .off onering-BU lWhich overlaps the'` endV ofthe-adjacent ring is faced Withy ak metal facing-'tl` which isextende'd around the reducedend of rthesegment andpressed into the outer endl ofthe Vringinl such manner as to hold' the same vrigidlyin position.- By facingt'he f segments of' sectionalgrings in this manner it isI possible to employjcdmposition materials where otherwise metalwonld necessarily/have toV be.

employed.`

for long periods of time.

where there 'is a certain amount of lateral vibration or sway tothe rod. 'I'he flexible nature of. the packing rings will accommodate the vari-` ations in the` packing surface and form a seal H under conditions where ordinarypacking would' bey ineffective. Bylub-ricatingthe packingl I l am enabled not only` to assist in the sealing effect of the rings but also' to prevent undue wear along the shaft. Thisis a feature of lim- `portanceinmany installations. It isY to be understoodthat my invention isy capable of general application `and is not re- I stricted Yentirely to the hereinbefore described. y

What is claimed as new is:

` l.. A packing ,unit including two segmental rimgs,v eachyring includingv aplurality of seg'- rmentsv the adjacent endsv ofy said segments being cuton asecant of a circle to form-av seat,l a cap ,plateon eachseat thus completing the'circle of v.the ring, means to hold said segments resiliently together, said cap' plates on one ofvsaid rings beingtaperedl longitudinally von the'straight side thereof contacting with said seat. v

2.V A packing unit including a pluralityof cup specific' construction sections-enclosing chambersabouta rod, a pair f of rings y loosely -mounted in each. chamber,` each ring being made up of al plurality of arcuate segments, theA adjacent ends lof which are in alignment to form agseat,v a cap plate on said seat, said plate on one of said rings being taperedA If the segments and cup plates are made ofthe longitudinally On'the 'Side adjantsad Seat S316- fabric composition' the contacting faces of thev segments should `be metal faced so that the v to yhold 'said ring in position about said rod.

3. A packing runit includinga'plurality of cup of rings loosely mounted yin each chamber, each ringbeing made up of a plurality of arcuatevsegv ments, "the adjacent ends of,which"are in alignymentl to form a seat, afcap plate Aon said seat,V *said Aseat andfplate on oneofjsaid ringsl being inclined longitudinally, .means t'o .exert an inward pressure'on said plates' and move them longitudinally in said, chamber for the purpose 4. AApacking unit includingaplurality of cup sections enclosing: chambers about a rod, a pair of rings loosely mounted in each chamber, each ring being made up `'of a plurality of arcuate segments,- the adjacent ends TofA which are in alignf A ment vto form ar seat,-a cap plate on said seat,

rotation in said Cup.

said seat ono'nevring beinginclined relative to the'axis of said rod and a spring "to hold said plates and segments on` said. rod, said plates being grooved radially to rpermit pressure fluid to pass into said chamber about said rings. A

5. A packing unit for stuffing boxes including an annular floating cup adapted to nt about a rod, a plurality of packing rings in `said cup, said rings being each madeup of a plurality of segmental sections spaced slightly apart, a cap plate engaging the adjacent ends of said `sections and acting with said sections to form a ring, means between said cup and said ring tohold of said rings being tapered to be moved longitudinally under radial pressure, to Wedge said rings together insaid cupVmeans tolubricate said rings, and means to prevent said rings from 6. A rod packing unit,'includinga pair of sectional rings, means' to hold 'said rings in position upon the rod, afhousingfor said rings, means to introduce lubricant throughr the Wall of said housing,` and through one ofsaid rings, and" a groove inthe other of said rings to conduct said lubricant to said rod. H l

7. A rod packing unit, including a pair of `sectional rings, means to holdsaid rings .in `position upon the rod, a housing for said rings, means to introduceA lubricant through. the- Wall of `said housing, and through one of said rings, andy a groove in the other-of said rings to conduct `said lubricant to Vsaid rod between said rings, and means to prevent rotation. of said ringsy on said rod thus maintaining said lubricating means properly positioned. Y y

' y HARLEY T. WHEELER. 

